Emma en Charlotte #2

The second volume of Emma en Charlotte arrives from Dargaud Benelux with a cover by Lena Sayaphoum that perfectly captures its mood: a young ballerina in a white tutu sits quietly backstage, her back turned and head bowed, surrounded by the warm glow of dressing-room lights. That subtitle — Eerste twijfels, "First Doubts" — feels entirely earned in this pensive, beautifully rendered moment of hesitation before the spotlight. Writer Jérôme Hamon and Sayaphoum, who also handles the art and color, have crafted a series with a delicate emotional touch that makes this 2017 release a graceful addition to any graphic novel shelf.